Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-05-24
A SW AMP MYSTERY.

the more destructive heat of the civil
war.
Gen Burnside had captured n long
reach of the seaboard and had established
his headquarters at Newhern. No battles
followed very soon, nor any storms IA
speak Of. but the army and the weather
were fast getting into high state uf
preparation for either kind of event.
There were Union troops at Fort Macon
and Morrhead city, not many miles up
the coast from \ewberu, and much pay
WAS due them
The money came down from the north
in July, and couple OF paymasters re
ceived orders TO go at once and deal il out
10 the men.
Before the war a railway had been con-
siruCte,i from New bern 10 Morehead City.
Its rails were still there, but all its rolling
stock with the exception of one hand car,
had gone into the interior of the state.
The viaduct was only just wide enough 10
carry the rails. and much of its course
was through IA swamp whose dense bushes
were now luXuriantly reaching ont US If
they meant To capture the track before the
end of the season
The quartermaster placed his one hand
car at the disposal of the paymasters. He
did SO with the pleasant information that
on the previous evening the busy Confed-
crates had made raid and had swept
AWAY all the pickets posted along the line
Of the railway. New pickets had been
posted, he told them, and their proposed
trip would he reasonably safe.
That is. said he, Il guess you're safe
from any Confeds. but if you don't get
through before dark I'd advise You to he
pretty prompt about answering any hail
The boys'Il- all be wide awake this time
They won't he slow about taking care Of
themselves in the dark Not man Of 'em
wants 10 20 to Wilmington Just now, nor
to Andersonvile either.
That warning made the paymasters
shake their heads and grow in importance
before the hand car set out, for it was
plain enough that il would be dark be-
fore the trip could lie half made Precisely
how dark il would be or why WAS not ss
yet imagined by anybody.
There were nine men huddled on that
hand car when il went. A sergeant and
four soldiers We're its motive power, guard
and garrison. The writer of this story
was there altogether as an adventurer.
Two paymasters, with the rank Of major,
and one clerk We're in charge of black
box containing over $50 600 in greenbacks
10 be scattered among the volunteers On
the morrow
The air grew more and more close and
sultry, and just before night q sort of haze
began to rise over the eastern horizon.
That's il, major" said the sergeant to
one of the paymasters. We're going ~
hear from Cape Hatteras."
storm coming
Right along. 'Twon't take-it long TO
come"
He was correct as 10 the time required
by Cape Hatteras, or whatever WAS man
aging that storm The sky rapidly grew
black as ink and darkness came with hut
moderate reference TO the departing sun.
Just before entering the denser thickets
Of the swamps picket was reached and
the officer in charge repeated the warning
Of the quartermaster.
BE ready 10 answer right away. It'll
De pitch dark, and some of the boys are
nervous after last nights work They II
shoot quick
This WAS tn the sergeant, but IL was Il
paymsster who replied:
We'll. now, captain, We didn't say hut
We thought the trip would lie safer by
night than by day. The men have got To
have the money.
Hope the rebs won't get il, then. Put
her through, sergeant, but look sharp.
The storm : most got here.
He also was correct about the weather.
In ten minutes more such IA storm had ar
rived as WAS a credit 10 Cape Hatteras and
the whole seacoast Of North Carolina. On
rolled the hand car, its crouching passen-
gers drenched with rain, that fell in
streams rather than drops. The lightning
flashed almost necessarily and the thunder
seemed 10 lie rolling around all over the
swamp Except where streak OF light
ming cleft IT, the darkness was like solid
wall. and there was neither head light nor
lantern provided Tor that hand car.
Worst storm l ever saw" remarked
the sergeant, and one OF the brace OF men
who We're acting rs motive power grnnted
back at him: Its the worst Kind Of a
storm, but you can Z see II.
II WAS a Just correction IL the statement
made hy the sergeant; but at that moment
hoarse, deep, sepulchral voice from